Dr. Cliff Pickover, author of thirty acclaimed books, discussed his latest Sex, Drugs, Einstein, and Elves, which explores the borderlands of science and reality. We are limited in our understanding of reality by the size and capacities of our brain, he noted, and he wondered what aspects of the universe might be shielded from us.

Time travel may eventually be developed, said Pickover, but when a person goes back in time they may be visiting a slightly different universe. Parallel universes are increasingly thought to be possible by theoretical physicists, and scientists could one day possibly deduce the presence of some of them by studying gravitational effects, he explained.

Pickover has been fascinated by his research into the effects of the drug DMT. Users often report similar experiences of being engulfed into a sparkling city or palace that is inhabited by intelligent "machine elves." He has not drawn a conclusion as to whether the beings exist independently or are generated by the mind. He also addressed unusual psychiatric and visual ailments such as Charles Bonnet syndrome, where people report seeing beings from another world, and Capgras Syndrome, where loved ones appear to be imposters.

Jack Quinlan

First half-hour guest Ron Barber spoke about the legendary sports broadcaster Jack Quinlan, the subject of his new audio book. Quinlan inspired Chicago Cubs fans in the 50's and 60's, said Barber, but his life was cut short at the age of 38. Now there's a campaign underway to have him inducted into the Baseball Broadcasters Hall of Fame.